Genius of Caring Portrait Provides Glimpse into the Painful Toll of Alzheimer’s

For those of us who work with patients and in advocacy, a common occupational hazard is to speak of people with serious illnesses in the collective sense. That’s easy to do in discussing Alzheimer’s disease because the overall statistics are so jarring – more than five million people are afflicted with this terrible illness, a number expected to nearly triple by the year 2050. It is a disease that, at this time, has no cure. But we should never lose sight of the unique, individual stories of the patients and caregivers who make up the Alzheimer’s-affected population. The lives that

Why Diane Rehm's Book Is a Must Read

Diane Rehm, the treasured NPR host of The Diane Rehm Show (and friend to UsAgainstAlzheimer’s ), has written a deeply personal, profoundly moving, incredibly honest book about her life before and after her husband’s death. Diane and John were married for 54 years. Admittedly, they were not all blissful — what marriage is? They loved each other but perhaps were not suited for each other. John, a brilliant lawyer, taciturn and introspective by nature, was happy just to be alone. Diane, though she appreciates solitude, is a gregarious, inquisitive, people person through and through. They would fight — and make

The Brain Fitness Club

The United Methodist Church is leading in the fight against Alzheimer's as a partner with us in the Faith United Against Alzheimer's Coalition. Many congregations are doing important work supporting those with Alzheimer's and their families, including First United Methodist Church of Winter Park, Florida. Thank you to Director Peggy Bargmann for this piece on the Brain Fitness Club. ~ Trish Tom Gerrity was a man of many talents. He could rebuild car engines, do electrical wiring, plumbing, woodworking, and play the piano. It was difficult to understand how this intelligent, educated engineer could go from designing mechanical systems for

Lifestyle Changes That May Improve Brain Health

There is no cure for Alzheimer's - no "magic bullet," as Rita Altman says. Rita leads Memory Care & Program Services for Sunrise Senior Living. She reminds us that as we fight to end Alzheimer's, there are steps we can all take to try to improve our brain health. ~ Trish A pill that cures Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Wouldn’t that be incredible? Recent articles in both TIME and The New York Times have explored ways our society can try to prevent and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. But scientists still haven’t found the ‘magic bullet,’ a

The Leader's Guide for Seasons of Caring

In 1986, when my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I had no idea what it was — except that it was a disease and it was fatal. I knew no one who had it or, at the very least, talked about it. So I entered into the enigmatic maze of Alzheimer’s without a clue about how to navigate or what to expect was to come. What I would have given to have the Leader’s Guide for Seasons of Caring. Forget Updike, Faulkner or even Theodore White — I truly think that Dr. Richard L. Morgan, author of this guide, should